[Tutor] Beginner

[Eur van Andel]

On Fri, 21 Nov 2003 10:12:53 +0700, Rozani Ismail <rozani at bppn.go.id> wrote:

>I'm new to this program .... 
>I'd like to know the pros and cons Python from your point of view...
I'm two weeks into Python, but I come from Pascal, BASIC, JAL, assembler,
FORTRAN.

Pros:
very powerful
batteries included
good suport
forces you to write in OO style
easy to learn compared to other languages
open source

(not only the languages, but a lot of the programs too. This forces you to
write better programs)

Cons:
a bit difficult to learn (the % operator comes to mind)
few examples on the low level
manual has a small and too simple Tutor section 
manual has a very formal Reference section
forces you to write in OO style

every command should have a decent Example. (Yes, this increases the number of
pages in the manual tenfold.)


Nearly all of the cons are one-time only. I had difficulty understanding some
stuff which was not or not well explained. Then again, I learned Python in two
weeks to get to the level that took me in Pascal 5 years!

Shedding the Pascal and BASIC legacy took some time (days) too.
I do things now in Python I could not imagine doing in Pascal or C ever again.
The configparser, for example.

--
Ir. E.E. van Andel, Fine Wire Heat Exchangers, Fiwihex B.V. www.fiwihex.com
Wierdensestraat 74, NL-7604 BK  Almelo, The Netherlands   eur at fiwihex.nl
phone +31-546-491106  fax +31-546-491107  mobile +31-653-286573